Rail-joint chair



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. BRIDGE, OF LARIMER, PENNS Y LVANIA, ASSIGNOR 0.1! ONE-EIGHTH TO LAWRENCE A. BRIDGE AND ONE-EIGHTH TO CHARLES C. PONITZ, ."BO'ILI I 01 NORTH IRWIN, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL-JOINT CHAIR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 26, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatl, JOHN A. Bureau, a citizen of the United States, residing at Larimer, in the county of Westmoreland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joint Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in rail-joint chairs, and has for its particular object, to provide a device of this character which will hold the adjacent ends of the rails in alinement and automatically or wearing of the parts. A further object is to provide means which will lock the hold ing parts in position, and also other means for preventing the pulling apart of the ends of the rails and at the same time allow suitable clearance for expansion and contraction.

These objects are attained by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the dc vice applied to a rail-joint.

Fig. 2 is a horlzontal sectional view taken substantially central of the rail.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and showing the wedge in end elevation, and

Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views of the front washer and lock nut respectively.

Similar reference numerals in all of the figures of the drawing designate like parts.

Referring to the drawing it will be seen that the rail-chair is formed with a base 6 which extends beneath the rails, and side flanges 7 and 8 formed integral with the base and adapted to lie alongside of the ends of the rails. Supporting flange 7 is formed to closely engage the flanges and webs of the adjacent rails on the inside of the track, and with its upper edge located close beneath and in engagement with the head of the rails to serve as a support therefor, and wedgeflange 8 is formed to lie spaced from the webs of the rails and its inner face is constructed slightly inclined outwardly from its front end to the rear end to form a wedge space 10 of varying width between it and the rails to receive a wedge-bar 9 for forcing the chair and the rails into tight relation.

The means provided for holding the wedge take up any lost motion that might be caused by jarring in its tight relation, 11 adapted to be of the chair, and 12, through which is passed an extension rod 13 preferably formed integral with the wed geunember and projecting substantially centrally from the front face thereof. The front end of rod. 13 is screw-threaded to receive a lock-nut 141-. which is adapted to engage against a washerl5 between which and the cover plate 11 is mounted a heavy coilspring 16 that surrounds the rod 13. The inner edge of member 15 is shaped to conform to the web and upper face of the railfiangc, so that it will seat snugly and squarely thereon, and on its front face is provided. with a vertical groove 17 which is formed to the outside of the opening 18 through which the rod 13 passes, and said groove 17 is adapted to register with a vertical groove 19 formed on the rear side of the nut, so that a pin 20 inserted in said grooves will lock the nut against accidental rotation. V

(lover plate 11 has its fe-u'uito conform with theshape of the web l flange of the rail, and is'provided on its outer edge with a lug 22 which is :ulapterz to overlap the web-flange 8, as shown in Fig. .l. of the drawing, and said lug 22 is provided with a. pin projection 28 adapted to enter an opening formed in the top side of the wedge-flange. The overlapping lug and its pin positively hold the cover plate in position and prevent its dis ilacement under severe jolts and jars caused by the trains travelin over the track.

The rear or larger end of the wedge 9 is provided with a recess or opening 24 adapted to receive a suitable tool used in removing the wedge from its wedging position.

Supporting-flange 7 is formed with a series of pins 25 which are adapted to enter openings 26 formed adjacent the ends of abutting rails. The openings 26 are slightly larger than the diameter of the pins 25, so that the rails can expand and contract and at the same time be prevented from pulling apart.

Both flanges 7 and 8 are provided with projecting lugs 27 which are preferably notched, as shown at 28, to receive the railspikes to retain the chair in position and prevent its creeping.

comprise a cover plate positioned on the front end provided with an aperture It will be apparent that with the parts assembled, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing,'and with the spring 16 under compression, that any looseness at the joint would at once be taken up by the spring which being under compression tends to force the nut 14 and washer 15, and consequently the wedge bar 9 to the left, or in the wedging direction.

From the above description taken in connection with the drawing, it will be observed that a rail-joint chair is provided which has stability, easy and simple to install, and one that will effectually hold the ends of the rails in alinement and automatically tighten its grip upon the rails should any looseness occur.

- vided with an integral supporting flange adapted to engage one side of the rails and the underside of the rail-head, and a wedgeflange extending upwardly and spaced from the other side of the rails and provided with an inner face which is inclined with respect to the sides of the rails to form a wedgespace between the rails and the wedge flange, a wedge-bar adapted to be forced into the wedge-space, and means connected to the small end of the wedge-bar for hold ing it in wedging position, including a spring mounted on an extension rod projecting from the small end of the wedge member and with locking means for forcing it under tension for automatically taking up loose motion.

2. A rail-joint chair, comprising a base adapted to lie beneath the rails and provided with an integral supporting flange adapted to engage one side of the rails and the underside of the rail-head, and a wedgeflange extending upwardly and spaced from the other side of: the rails and provided with an inner face which is inclined with respect to the sides of the rails to form a wedge-space between the rails and the wedge-flange, a wedge-bar adapted to be forced into the wedge-space, and means connected to the small end of the wedge-bar for holding it in wedging position. including a spring with locking means for forcing: it under tension for :mtolnatically taking up loose motion, "rid locking means embodying a. non-rotatable washer provided with a groove in one face, and a nut adjustably mounted on the end of the wedge-bar and also provided with a groove to register with the \msher-grom'e, and a locking pin adapted to engage in the registering grooves.

3. A railjoint chair, comprising a base adapted to lie beneath the rail and provided with upwardly extending flanges adapted to lie on opposite sides of the rails, a wedgebar adapted to be forced between one of said flanges and the sides of the rails and provided with an extension rod at its smaller end, a cover plate adapted to engage the end of the chair adjacent the small end of the wedgebar and provided with an aperture to permit said extension rod to pass therethrmigh. a non-rotatable washer slidably engaged on the end of the extension rod, a spring mounted on the extension rod between the cover plate and non-rotatable washer, a not for Forcing the washer against the spring to compress the same, and means for locking the washer and nut together.

in t stimony whereof; I aflix my signature.

JOHN A. BRIDGE. 

